All publications: informal employment + informal enterprises + informal economy

Report

Promoting public procurement for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises’ growth and transition to formality: Lessons learned from Chile...

This report aims to highlight the potential of public procurement in the promotion of growth and transition to formality for MSMEs and discusses the challenges that small economic units face as they seek access to the public procurement market.

ILO brief

Promising practices for fair recruitment in Côte d'Ivoire: Development of an international placement service by the Youth Employment Agency

Côte d’Ivoire's Youth Employment Agency (Agence nationale pour l’insertion et l’emploi des jeunes), with ILO support, has developed an international placement service to promote fair recruitment and labour migration.

Traction through action: An antidote to paralysis by analysis?

The what, why and how of action research

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their workers: Experiences from Senegal

This document is part of a series of case studies by the ENTERPRISES Department of the ILO. Each case study presents one or several approaches that contribute to enterprise formalization across the world. The case studies provide a snapshot on a...

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their employees: Experiences from Cabo Verde

This document is part of a series of case studies by the ENTERPRISES Department of the ILO. Each case study presents one or several approaches that contribute to enterprise formalization across the world. The case studies provide a snapshot on a...

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their employees: Experiences from Nepal

This document is part of a series of case studies by the ENTERPRISES Department of the ILO. Each case study presents one or several approaches that contribute to enterprise formalization across the world. The case studies provide a snapshot on a...

Formalization strategies

Innovative approaches to promoting the transition to formality in Latin America and the Caribbean

This background guide supports the Regional Tripartite Knowledge Sharing Forum on “Innovative Approaches to Promoting the Transition to Formality in Latin America and the Caribbean.” It addresses the persistent and multidimensional challenge of...

Report

Innovative Approaches Taken by Workers’ Organizations to Drive Formalization

The report showcases concrete actions taken by trade unions to organize, represent, and provide meaningful services to workers in the informal economy while preventing the informalization of those in the formal economy. It highlights how trade...

Diagnostic study of the informal economy in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: The garment and textile, and nursery and kindergarten...

Research Report

Innovative approaches to formalization in Asia and the Pacific: Background report to ILO Asia and the Pacific Tripartite Regional Knowledge...

This report showcases a wide range of innovations that are taking place across Asia and the Pacific to tackle informality, ranging from state-of-the-art use of technology to facilitate formalization, to community-based approaches to protect workers...

ILC.113/Report VI

Innovative approaches to addressing informality and promoting the transition to formality for decent work

Informality

A Multidimensional Analysis of the persistence of Informality in Youth-led Businesses

Kasulu, Tanzania (ILO Brief) - Previous research, including by the International Labour Organization (ILO), has highlighted a significant correlation between the various dimensions of poverty and informal employment. For example, household size and...

Research report: Gender diagnostics in support of transforming employment frameworks in Viet Nam

This report has been published through ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work, a global multi-country programme initiated in 2021. Funded by the governments of Switzerland and Norway, it has operations in Ghana, South Africa, and Vietnam. The...

Brief

Mind the gap: Why women in Pakistan earn less than men and what we can do about it

Despite global efforts, women in Pakistan still earn 25 per cent less per hour than men, with disparities widening for older and lower-income workers. This policy brief highlights key barriers, including discrimination, weak compliance with labour...

Skills development

Towards a sector skills strategy for Viet Nam’s textile and garment industry: Priority skills needs, actions, and recommendations for...

This report has been published under the project “Future of Work in Textile and Clothing: Forecasting and Developing Skills in Viet Nam to Advance Decent Work and Productivity in the Sector”, which is funded by the Governments of Japan and the...

STED Research report

Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification: Analysis of the textile and garment industry in Viet Nam

This report has been published under the project “Future of Work in Textile and Clothing: Forecasting and Developing Skills in Viet Nam to Advance Decent Work and Productivity in the Sector”, which is funded by the Governments of Japan and the...

Policy Brief

Social dialogue for the governance of labour migration

This policy brief explores the role of social dialogue in the governance of labour migration. It examines how tripartite and bipartite social dialogue, cooperation and action have contributed to the development and implementation of rights-based and...

SOLIFEM project

Informal economy diagnostic study in Egypt

The Informal Economy Diagnostic Study in Egypt, conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Social Dialogue for Formalization and Employability in the Southern Neighbourhood (SOLIFEM) project—co-funded by the European Union...

ILO-UNV Joint publication

Volunteering, unpaid care work and gender in lower-income countries

In recognition of the interactions and similarities between volunteering and unpaid care work, this  research paper released as part of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) partnership on the...

Fact sheet

Enabling Sectoral Pathways towards Formality for Vulnerable Workers and Enterprises in Nepal’s Informal Economy

This project aims to provide technical support to tripartite constituents to promote the transition towards formality for women workers and enterprises in sectors with high incidence of informality.